Fabricated golf club head



June 28, 1932 BALCH 1,864,513

FABRICATED GOLF CLUB HEAD Filed April 2Q. 1929 gnu: for

fill 50 11012,

dttoznu i Patented Jane 28, 1932 JACK H. BALOH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISFABRICATED GOLF CLUB HEAD Application filed Apri1 20,

This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of golf clubheads and particularly, to the manufacture of those types.

or designs of club heads whoseconstructions have been heretoforeefi'ected' with'wood. persimmon wood especiallysuch for exa1nple, asclubs identified in the'parlance of the game as drivers, brassies andspoons, the

invention having for its principal de'siderata,

to provide a fabricated club head, which, when constructed in accordancewith the hereinafter more specifically disclosed teachings to the trade,will possess strength, rigidity and durability much greater than the'now prevalent wooden club heads and also,

will approximate in weight, club heads constructed of persimmon or likegenerally used woods.

It is an equally important object of the invention to provide afabricated golf club head, wherein the sheets or plys of materialutilized in constructing the same, are so relatively arranged as tofacilitate the correct shaping of the head and also, to impart a 15maximum of strength anddurability to a finished product, permitting theforming of the shaft receiving neck integral with, the head andin amanner to ensure a practical degree of rigidity therebetween. d

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereiriaften- In order that the invention and its mode ofoperation may be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, Ihave in the acoompanying illustrativedrawing, and in thedetailedfollowi'ngdescription based thereon, set out several possibleembodiments 'of the same.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection through afabricated golf club head constructed in accordance with the invention,

' head, of. course, is selected according to the showing the same priorto vulcanization of the layers or plys of fabric together;

Figure 2' is a similar. section showing the golf club headsubsequent tovulcanization of the layers or plys of fabric together and illustratingthe attachment of a sole'or wear compensating plate to the sole portionof '1929. Serial No. 356,673.

the club as well asa means for lessening the weight of the completedproduct that it will approximate the weight of light wood clubs;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a finished club head, constructed inaccordance with the invention, and

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the completed club head, showing theformation and the mode of attachment of the sole or wear compensatingplate to the sole portion of the 3 club. c

Having more particular; reference to the drawing, in connection withwhich like characters ofreference will designate corresponding parts;throughout, the improved 05 golf head is preferably fabricated fromlayers or plys of canvas duck or other approved fabric, as is generallyshown in the Figure 1, these layers or plys of fabric being arranged insuperimposed relation with respectto each other, whereby to effect abuilding up of the club head construction; certain of these plys offabric being in lengths such as will permit them to extend from the toeportion of thew club throughout the club head neck and to "5 the extremefree end thereof, While others of these layers or plys of fabric are inlengths such as will permit them to extend from the toeportion of theclub head to the base of the shaft receiving neck. The various layers orplys of fabric employed in the fabricating of the golf club head arepreferably of widthscorresponding to the desired width of a club head tobe constructed therefrom, though in this connection, it is to beunderstood, that the layers or plys of fabric may be of different widthsandthat any number of the same may be employed to effect theconstructing of 'a'golf club headof a certain'predetermined 'width, suchas conditions or preference may dictate. v i

The canvas duck or other fabric utilized in the construction of myimproved golf club weight and characterof fabric best suited for theseparticular purposes and such sheets or bodies of fabric, in the processof construction of: the improved golf club head, are first thoroughlyimpregnated with a bakelite varnish or similar resin, whereupon the soimpregnated fabric bodies are cut into strips of proper length and thenplaced aside for a time to permit of their drying.

, The dried bakelite varnish or resin impregnated strips of fabric arethen punched or cut into pieces of the required size and shape. Certainof these punched or cut pieces of the treated fabric are of lengthssuchas will permit them to extend from the toe portion of the club head tothe free extremity of the shaft receiving neck, these pieces beinggenerally indicated for convenience, at this time, by the numeral 1.Others of the cut or punched pieces of treated and dried fabric are oflengths such as will permit them to extend from the toe portion of theclub head to the base portion of the shaft receiving neck and theseshorter lengths of treated fabric are indicated for convenience, at thistime, by the numeral 2.

The golf club head construction is started with the laying of the longerpieces of treated fabric indicated by the numeral 1 into the separatedhalves of an appropriate mold, whereupon shorter pieces of the treatedfabric, such as indicated by the numeral 2, are

superimposed upon the longer pieces 1.

Longer pieces of the treated fabric, such as indicated by the numeral 1are then laid over theuppermost shorter pieces 2 and this method ofalternate laying of long and short pieces of treated fabric, 1 and 2respectively, is continued until the separated mold halves have beensupplied with superimposed layers of fabric representing the requiredthickness or depth of a golf club head to be molded there- \Vith thealternate building up of the long and short pieces of treated fabric 1and 2, in the sections of the golf club head mold employed, said moldsections are jointed, that is, the upper half of the mold is joined tothe lower half thereof and at this time, the fabricated constructionwithin the mold is subjected to a pressure of approximately threethousand pounds to the square inch and at the same time the mold isbrought to that temperature necessary to effect a vulcanization of theplastic composition treated pieces 1 and 2 contained therein. Whileunder the pressure indicated above, the fabricated construction withinthe mold is baked or cured for a period of from three to four hours,

after which the heating "of the mold is dis-' continued and thevulcanized product in form of the fabricated golf club head, thenremoved from the mold in complete form.

Inthis connection, it will be understood thatthe normally upper andlower sides of the completed and removed golf club head are faced withthe longer pieces of fabric, hereinbefore identified by the numeral 1,thus giving a continuity of surface to the exposed faces or sides of theconstruction. By reason of the alternate laying or positioning of theshorter pieces of treated fabric 2, it will be understood that thegreater width or depth of the body portion 3 of the golf club headstruction to pressure within the vulcanizing mold. At the same time, itwill be under-,

stood and appreciated by workers skilled in this particular art, thatthe shaft receiving neck at will be integral With the body portion 3 ofthe club head and consequently upon this, that a maximum degree ofrigidity will be effected as between these two particular elements,therefore, assuring effectual usage of a completed club head.

With the molding of the'ifabricated club head, the shaftv receiving neck4 may, of course, be formed with an: opening of proper length anddiameter for receiving the club shaft; this being effected by drillingor by similar ways and means, well known in the art. t e

In order that the weight of the molded club head may approximate theweight of the lighter woocl clubs, I have found it practical, under suchconditions, to hollow-out a portion of the body 3 in. the fashion as isindicated by the numeral 4. This hollowing out of the golf club headbody is effected from the normally lower side or heel portion of thesame to, preferably within one-eighth of an inch from the normally upperside of said body, or. if not this,'then to such extent as will bringthe weight of the club to approximately the same weight as a golfclubhead constructed from persimmon Wood, which, as will be well understood,is generally used in this particular art at the present time.

A sole or wear compensating plate, preferably formed of. aluminum, andgenerally indicated by the numeral 5, is provided the construction andis adapted to be set in flush with the normally lower side or soleportion of the body 3 of the club head, as is well shown in the Figure2, adjacent portions of the'normally lower or sole side of the clubbeing cut away to effect this flush in-setting of the plate. Screwsorother suitable fastening devices, generally indicated by the numeral 6,are passed through appropriately arranged-openings formed'in portions ofthe wear compensating plate 5 into engagement [with adjacent portions ofthe body3 and obviously, serve as means to effect a firm and positivesecuring of the plate to the head. Likewise, it will,;of course, beunderstood that the opposite end portions ofthis wear cormpensating'orsole plate 5 are formed to correspond to the shape or curvature of theadjacent receiving portions of the opposite sides of the club head, asis shown in the Figure l.

Under certain conditions, it may be desirable that the wear compensatingplate 5 shall be of solid construction, so that when it is engagedfiushly in the sole 5 of the club head body 3, it will serve as aneffectual plate closure for the hollowed out portion of the body, hence,preventing the possibility of dirt or other foreign accumulationstherein with the resultant unbalancing of the club head.

It will be understood that golf club heads of those particular typesknown in the parlance of the game as drivers, brassies and spoons,

gered in the jointures between the fabric pieces constituting the same,with relation to the jointures of the adjacent superimposed layer.Likewise, it is to be understood that according to the thickness ordepth of the body portion of a club head fabricated in accordance withthe invention, the number of shorter treated pieces 2 may be increasedor decreased, such as conditions or preference may dictate andsimilarly, the number of the longer pieces of treated fabric indicatedherein by the numeral 1-may be either increased or decreased to meet theparticular requirements of construction. I

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerablemodification, and such modification as is within the'scope of my claimsI consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A golf club head comprising a body and a shaft receiving neckcomposed of superimposed layers of fabric impregnated with a plasticcomposition and vulcanized together, certain of said layers of fabricbeing of lengths to extend from the toe of the body to the free end ofthe neck and being curved transversely of themselves adjacent the heelof the body whereby to constitute said neck as an integral portion ofthe body, and the others of said layers being alternately arranged withrespect to the first mentioned layers and being of lengths to extendfrom the toe to the heel of the body, said neck being formed forconnection with a club shaft. 2. A glof club head comprising a bodyhav-- ing a shaft receiving neck extended therefrom, said body and neckbeing composed of superimposed layers of mesh material, said layers ofmaterial being arranged in relative overlapping relationship and certainof the same extending from the toe of the body to the outer end of saidneck, said layers of material being impregnated with aplastic'matter-and vulcanized together. i

3. A golf club head comprising a body and a shaft receiving neckextended therefrom the body and neck being composed of relativelysuperimposed layers of fabric, certain of which are formed in lengthsextending from the toe of thebody to approximately the base of the neck,others of said layers of fabrlic ging formed in lengths extending from tie t neck, the different lengths of fabric layers being disposedalternately in their superimposed relation and all of said layers beingtransversely curved upon themselves adjacent the basal portion of theneck to afford the same with a substantially cross sectionally circularshape, and the layers of fabric being impregnated with a plastic matterand vulcanized together.

4. A golf club head comprising a body and a shaft receiving neckcomposed of relatively superimposed layers of fabric, the lengths ofsaid layers of fabric being different and some thereof extendingthroughout the length of said body and for a distance into said neck andothers thereof extending throughout the complete lengths of said bodyand said neck, said layers of fabric being impregnated with aplasticmatter and vulcanized together, and the body being brought to requiredweight by cutting away an intermediate portion of'the same fgom thenormally lowered side thereof.

5.- A golf club head comprising a body and.

shaft receiving neck, said body and neck being composed of a pluralityof relatively overlying pieces, of mesh material, the neck being formedupon one portion ofthe body byextending certain of the pieces ofmaterial therefrom, and said pieces of mesh material being impregnatedwith a plastic matter and vulcanized together to provide a hard,substantially .-rigid and non-warping device throughout its area.

7 A. golf club head comprising a body and i a shaft receiving neckextended from a portion thereof, the body and neck being composed ofrelatively overlying pieces of fabric, portions of certain of the piecesof fabric being transversely curved upon themselves in proximity to thebasal portion of the neck to 5 afford the same a substantially crosssectionally circular shape and the pieces of fabric being impregnatedwith a plastic matter and vulcanized together.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JACK H. BALCH.

